MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Park Nicollet Health Services and Allina Hospitals & Clinics today announced that they have signed a Letter of Intent to explore with the Maple Grove community the best ways to meet the growing health care needs of that community. The two systems are in the process of completing a feasibility study and are continuing to meet with community leaders and organizations to better understand the community health care needs and engage the community in what both systems' leaders have described as a co-creation process.
While the feasibility study is just getting underway, Park Nicollet Health Services has a proposed site near the intersection of 95th Street and I-94. Maple Grove and its surrounding communities comprise one of the fastest growing areas in the state, where population is expected to increase 23% by 2018. The feasibility study is expected to be completed this October and will likely include a review of inpatient bed needs for the community. Both systems' boards of directors will review the study results and decide if the systems will move forward with planning.
Park Nicollet and Allina have a strong history of collaboration. Along with Benedictine Health System, they are joint owners of St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee. Working together, they have expanded the size and quality of service and improved access to specialized care for residents of Scott County, another fast-growing area.
"We have the opportunity to share the expertise and resources of Park Nicollet and Allina to address the health care needs of the Maple Grove community," said David Wessner, President and CEO of Park Nicollet Health Services. "Working together, we could use health care dollars more efficiently."
More than 100 Maple Grove leaders have already participated in meetings over the past 18 months facilitated by Park Nicollet Foundation. These meetings will continue as community input will be sought at every step of the process.
"Allina and Park Nicollet share a common mission in meeting the needs of our communities," said Dick Pettingill, President and CEO of Allina. "We see potential in working together to bring greater access and additional health care services to this community while doing it in a different, innovative way."
Allina has had long-standing presence in the community with its primary care clinic in Maple Grove since 1983. Park Nicollet's Maple Grove clinic, which opened in 1999, has already undergone two expansions to add additional care services in response to community demand. Patients from Maple Grove are very familiar with the two organizations, which have historically provided clinic and hospital-based care to a significant portion of the population.
Park Nicollet Health Services is an integrated care system that includes Methodist Hospital, Park Nicollet Clinic, Park Nicollet Foundation and Park Nicollet Institute. Park Nicollet Health Services is based in St. Louis Park and has almost 7,500 employees, including 543 physicians on staff. Park Nicollet Health Services can be found online at http://www.parknicollet.com/ .
Allina Hospitals & Clinics is a non-profit network of hospitals, clinics and other health care services, providing care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina owns and operates 15 hospitals, 42 clinics, hospice services, pharmacies, and emergency medical transportation services. Allina Hospitals & Clinics can be found online at http://www.allina.com/ .
Park Nicollet Health Services; Allina Hospitals & ClinicsCONTACT: Vince Rivard of Allina, +1-763-236-3777 office, +1-612-654-8769pager, or Jeremiah Whitten of Park Nicollet, +1-952-993-6057 office,+1-952-231-5028 pager
